DTI Asec Caberte sworn in via virtual oath taking

CEBU, Philippines —  Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary Ramon Lopez officially sworn in former Central Visayas regional director Asteria Caberte as assistant secretary, in a virtual ceremony held Monday.

Caberte, who served as DTI-7 regional director for years, is now assuming higher responsibilities in promoting the nation’s trade and industry.

The first and historic oath taking ceremony was held on August 3, 2020 virtually attended by different officials from DTI regional and national offices led by secretary Lopez.

Caberte’s new position covers the regional operations group of DTI Philippines.

“I am tasked to support the Undersecretary of the DTI’s Regional Operations Group in the development of creative, smarter and innovation-oriented micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthen grassroots approach in value adding of these MSMEs,” Caberte said in an earlier interview.

This petite, workaholic Boholana started working at the age of 21 as a project analyst for Medium and Small Scale Industries Coordinated Action Program (Masicap) where she was assigned in Baguio and Pangasinan.

She then joined DTI as an analyst at the Small Business Assistance Center.

Years later, she was appointed as DTI-Bohol, her hometown, as provincial director, followed by her assignment to head the Central Visayas operations as DTI-7 regional director.

Caberte championed a lot of government-private sector projects in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas.

Caberte’s new role allows her to help more micro, small and medium entrepreneurs around the country, particularly in this new normal environment.

“We have to be more inclusive by going to the grassroots level,” she vowed to continue her passion in helping the budding entrepreneurs with business concepts have great potential.